The Journey Continues - May 2011

It has been one year since my perfect little peanut entered the world. My experiences in motherhood have been nothing short of amazing. I have found that I am a better person now than I have ever been (if I do say so myself). I have a deep well of patience with my daughter than I ever thought possible. I *love* being a mom.

For this reason, as well as a few other, less important reasons, we are continuing on to the next leg of our unexpected journey. On May 31, almost exactly 2 years after we saw him the first time, we have a consultation with Dr. RE to form a game plan for treatments to conceive again. We actually began 'trying' at 9 months postpartum, but we expected very little from trying on our own due to our past experiences. I've been tracking/charting my cycles, and they're still erratic, but hopefully going to become more regular quickly. I breastfed until RoBet was 9 months old, so it is perfectly normal for my cycles to still be erratic, so no additional worries there.

What we think will be the go-forward plan is 3 cycles of IUI with Clomid again, like last time. Our chances for success were so small, but it still worked! If we can be that lucky once, it just might happen again. So, we're willing to give it a shot again this time, provided that nothing has gotten worse with either of us since 2 years ago. We assume that Dr. RE will order a slew of tests again to ensure that everything is as it was. We have to get a Cycle Day 3 FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) test done for our insurance coverage to ensure that I have not entered menopause early, in which case they will not cover treatments. This was not a problem before, so I have no concerns that it will be now. I think we'll also do a progesterone test to make sure I have adequate levels to sustain a pregnancy, should one occur. Lastly, I hope he will order a semen analysis for my husband to make sure that his levels haven't deteriorated further. Assuming that those all go well (along with any other tests he may order that I haven't assumed already), we'll jump right in with the IUI next month!

It is the strangest feeling, this 'baby fever' as it is sometimes called. Before RoBet, I wanted to be pregnant and have children, yes. However, the feeling I have now is so intense, so emotionally based, so raw. I cannot explain the difference adequately. It's funny, because I really did not like being pregnant at all, and now I long for it intensely. So, here's hoping that this method of treatment works for us again and we are pregnant in the next 3 - 4 months! Wish us luck!

A Happy Birthday - May 23, 2011

We had a lovely birthday yesterday. RoBet turned 1. *sniff* It was bittersweet. She is such a little kid now, rather than a baby. She is walking, responding to conversation, trying to talk, interacting with people and toys and much, much more. She fills out her changing table now. When her head is nearly touching the end, her toes reach the other end. She fills out her crib much more now too. I look at her and realize that she is not a baby anymore, and it makes me proud and sad at the same time. I think she is funny, smart, and happy too. She laughs at my silliness, figures out new ways of causing mischief, and figures out problems. Like I said, she is such a kid now.

We spent the day together yesterday for her first birthday. We didn't do much, mainly because of the rain (it rained almost all day here). So, we watched it rain for a little while. That was peaceful. We practiced walking too - she loves to walk while you hold her hand or pushes along behind her toy, though she walks fairly well without any support too. We had a simple lunch together, and then she had a nap while Mommy played video games and tidied up. Then we went to the store and picked up fresh fruits and veggies for the week. After dinner, we gave her a strawberry shortcake roll with a candle in it and sang her 'happy birthday'. It took her awhile to realize that it was a treat for eating. She looked at it, sitting there on the plate that she's never used, then looked at us, then back at the plate, then back at us. After encouraging her to eat it with words and motions, I picked it up and held it out to her to taste. She took a nibble and her face lit up! Then she dove in with both hands. Her favorite part was the icing (just like Mommy), which she proceeded to suck off of her fingers, sometimes four at a time.

Although not eventful, it was a happy birthday for both RoBet and Mommy. Now we are looking forward to Saturday, which will be her birthday party. We have about 20 people coming to celebrate the day, and it should be a fun afternoon!

What a Difference a Year Makes - May 18, 2011

As GDad pointed out in a recent comment, anyone who is still out there checking in from time to time is due an update. RoBet will be 1 year old next Monday, May 23rd. She is thriving and happy and just a joy, and I could not be more proud to be her mommy. This year has just gone by so quickly. OK, OK, I know that it has not gone by more quickly than any other year of my life, it just feels that way. We are planning a small birthday party for her with close family and friends over Memorial Day weekend. It should be nice - I hope the weather cooperates! We've had so much rain here lately! Her Grammy and Papa have bought her an awesome swingset that we're planning to put together on her birthday! We'll have lots of extra hands to help from all of our friends - they are just the best! So hopefully it will come together quickly and she can be swinging and sliding by the end of the day.

In other news, Grammy and Papa have decided to buy a house about 5 minutes away from us! We are so excited! They will be close enough to get together for dinner, see each other for a walk, etc. Yay!

I have much more to update on, but this will have to suffice for now. Hope all is well with anyone still out there!

An eventful evening (part 2 - watch me last hubby!)

So I'm posting these mostly for my husband who is away on business in Japan. He missed being present for a few pretty cool things tonight, but at least I caught them on video! I am sharing them here for all to enjoy, but mostly to make sure he can! This one takes an unexpected twist. Make sure you watch the other one first, hubby! Oh, and it looks like the choppiness and missing audio is gone now - huzzah!

An eventful evening (part 1)

New accomplishment tonight - grasping with intent! Look at how she decides she's going to grasp something, puts her arm up, opens her hand, and then she grasps it! Amazing! And I like where the ring ends up - how does it get there? haha! Sorry the video is choppy - I don't know why it runs that way. And the audio seems to have disappeared. Oh well!

Off Topic

I have been putting off getting my wedding and engagement rings appraised for our insurance because I have just had so much else going on. I finally got around to it on Tuesday. I was told that my rings would be ready for pickup on Friday and they would call me to let me know what time. I didn't really want to leave my rings for three whole days (other places prices were higher but would have them ready for pickup the same day or next day. This place is a small local business though, so I chose them for price, proximity, and the quaint family feel). I still had no call as of today, so I just called the store. They told me they should be ready by next Tuesday. Next. Tuesday. I'm very upset! It's hard to be without my rings for so long - I wear them all the time, every day. Imagine going without underwear (assuming you wear it) for a whole week. That's what it feels like. And why in the hell does it take 7.5 days to appraise two rings? Grrrr.

Just an Observation

I went back to work last week. It wasn't too bad. I missed my little girlie like crazy, but that is to be expected. In any case, I am breastfeeding my baby. If any of you are working mothers, or close to a woman when she had her baby and went back to work, you probably know about breast pumping. I have been pumping several times a day at work as my workplace is very good about encouraging breastfeeding for new mothers for all of the health benefits to baby. And if baby is healthy, mom doesn't have to miss lots of work to care for baby. Sorry, I digress. My observation is this - when my breast pump is working, it makes an interesting sound. In my head, it sounds like the pump is saying "breasto - breasto - breasto". I amuse myself by making up other phrases that it may be "saying" as it works. In any case, I found myself walking around the house today making wooshing sounds and thinking "breasto-breasto-breasto". I think I need more sleep.

Last Day of Maternity Leave - July 23rd, 2010

Tomorrow is my last day of maternity leave. I've had a variety of feelings about my pending return to work, but recently it's been a blend of apprehension and sadness. I'll miss my little girl something awful and I'm afraid that she won't get as good of care as I can give her. Realistically, she'll probably get better care from those who are more familiar with her development. But darnitall, I'm Mommy! I give the best attention, hands down! I really just need to calm down and accept that it will be what it will be. If I really can't stand it, I can always leave work. I've promised myself at least a full month of trying before I really think about it again. Once that month is up I can reconsider my feelings, but until then, I need to give work my attention again. I really do enjoy working, so hopefully I can feel that pleasure of accomplishment again when I return. Only time will tell.

In the meantime, I have a heck of a busy 3 days coming up! Tomorrow is my baby girl's 2 month checkup! I hope she's been thriving. I've had breastmilk supply issues - perhaps I'll write more details on that later. Suffice to say that I hope she is gaining weight and growing appropriately from her last appointment and I'll be very happy with where we are. After the appointment with the pediatrician, we're headed for the daycare for another meeting with her new teachers. We'll get some last-minute questions answered and then we're off to the hospital (one pretty far away actually, not the two closest to us) to return the hospital-grade breast pump that we've been renting. Finally, we hope to have dinner at an Indian restaurant in our old neighborhood since we've moved to the sticks and no longer have Indian food nearby. Saturday will be filled with a doctor's appointment for my husband and I for our insurance, then off to a suburb waaaay on the other side of town for a girls' afternoon out - manicures, pedicures, and dinner of some sort. Sunday will be filled with a visit from friends for some D&D (Dungeons and Dragons for all you non-geeks). Then we'll do some chores and we're headed for the work week. Eeek!

So wish me luck, please! It's gonna' be crazy 'round these parts!

I am a terrible blogger

But, on the other hand, I have a most adorable baby girl! She was born in late May at 6 pounds and 14 ounces. She was a long little girl at 20 inches. She came 3 days after my due date and is now 6 weeks old. Here is a picture of the little munchkin. Bask in her adorableness! =)

Oh, and by the way, we really thought 'she' was going to be a 'he'. We were awfully surprised, but couldn't ask for a more delightful baby.

Six Weeks Left - April 8th, 2010

I can hardly believe that I only have 6 weeks left in this pregnancy. Actually, that's 6 weeks until my due date - I'll be considered full term in just 3 weeks. Wow. We have a lot to do between now and then, that's for sure! We close on both houses on April 20th and move to our new home on the 21st. Two weeks from right now, we'll be in our new house. Crazy. That's all I have to post for now. Eventually I'll have pictures of the new house. When we remember the camera. And it's charged. And we have the memory stick. Eventually.